Gen V LT1 Small Block

Rebirth of the LT1

Tightening emissions rules, astronomical CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements, and skyrocketing gas prices--all factors that could spell the death knell for the venerable Chevy small-block V-8, and performance in general. Well, in this topsy-turvy world, thankfully we have the dedicated V-8 gearheads at Chevrolet to send us a lifeline.

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Since the pending announcement of the new Gen V small-block hit the Internet, there've been a lot of rumors and erroneous details about the new engine that left no real clear picture about what the new mill was going to be, outside some sort of V-8. When the cover was lifted off the new engine, all the rumors vanished, and in their place was a brand spanking new 6.2 liter V-8, with a name all Chevy enthusiasts remember with both fondness and derision: LT1

OK, everyone's scratching their heads right now. "LT1?!" Judging from the reactions when we first posted the new designation to our Facebook page, reactions were decidedly mixed. Negative or positive, it doesn't matter, we like it. The new engine shares only four parts with the LS series (more on that later), promises great out of the box horsepower, even greater potential for more, and is probably the best rebirth possible for one of the more storied engine names in Chevy's RPO list. So, leave the Opti-fail jokes in the back seat of your '94 Z28, and get ready for what promises to be the best small-block to ever leave Detroit. It makes its debut in the all-new 2014 Corvette, better known around GM as the C7.

"The Holy Grail for developing a performance car is delivering greater performance and more power with greater fuel economy and that's what we've achieved," said TadgeJuechter, Corvette chief engineer. "By leveraging technology, we are able to get more out of every drop of gasoline and because of that we expect the new Corvette will be the most fuel-efficient 450-horsepower car on the market."

Only 450 horsepower?That's only 14 more than the LS3 with dual-mode exhaust in the '13 Corvette, right? Well, don't be surprised if that number goes up a bit. The 450 number given to us is preliminary, and once full testing is finished up with the usual amount of tuning and tweaking from the engineers, that rating will probably go up. The new LT1 is months away from production, and there's more development work to be done.

Something else we noticed when checking out the front accessory drive on the LT1...no power steering pump. The engineers didn't say anything, but we can only surmise this means the C7 will feature electric power steering. Another interesting item is the cast iron exhaust manifold, which are modeled after the free-flowing pieces out of the current 7.0-liter LS7. Its construction and outlet flange look conspicuously ready to accept an exhaust driven power adder of some sort. The next ZR1 a turbo? Just a guess based on observations, so we'll be forced to wait and see till this time next year.

Here's what the engineers have to say:
"The Corvette LT1 represents the most significant redesign in the small-block's nearly 60-year history, building on its legacy to make one of the world's best engines even better," said Sam Winegarden, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. "More than just great horsepower, the LT1 has been optimized to produce a broader power band. Below 4,000 rpm, the torque of the Corvette LT1 is comparable to that of the legendary, 7.0L LS7 out of the current Corvette Z06. The LT1 is a sweetheart of a powerplant and drivers will feel its tremendous torque and power at every notch on the tachometer."

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Increased power and efficiency were made possible by an unprecedented level of analysis, including computational fluid dynamics, to optimize the combustion system, the direct injection fuel system, active fuel management and variable valve timing systems that support it. More than 10 million hours of computational analysis were conducted on the engine program, including 6 million hours (CPU time) dedicated to the advanced combustion system.

Direct injection is all-new to the engine architecture and is a primary contributor to its greater combustion efficiency by ensuring a more complete burn of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture. This is achieved by precisely controlling the mixture motion and fuel injection spray pattern. Direct injection also keeps the combustion chamber cooler, which allows for a higher compression ratio. Emissions are also reduced, particularly cold-start hydrocarbon emissions, which are cut by about 25 percent.

Continuously variable valve timing, which GM pioneered for overhead-valve engines, is refined to support the LT1 AFM and direct injection systems to further optimize performance, efficiency and emissions.

These technologies support the all-new, advanced combustion system, which incorporates a new cylinder-head design and a new, sculpted piston design that is an integral contributor to the high-compression, mixture motion parameters enabled by direct injection.

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The LT1 head features smaller combustion chambers designed to complement the volume of the unique topography of the pistons' heads. The smaller chamber size and sculpted pistons produce an 11.5:1 compression ratio, while the head features large, straight and rectangular intake ports with a slight twist to enhance mixture motion. This is complemented by a reversal of the intake and exhaust valve positions, as compared to the previous engine design. Also, the spark plug angle and depth have been revised to protrude farther into the chamber, placing the electrode closer to the center of the combustion to support optimal combustion.

The pistons feature unique sculpted topography that was optimized via extensive analysis to precisely direct the fuel spray for a more complete combustion. The contours of the piston heads are machined to ensure dimensional accuracy--essential for precise control of mixture motion and the compression ratio, according to GM Engineering.

Then there's the 11.5:1 compression! The last production engine to leave the factory with that much squeeze was the ZL-1 427 at 12:1. But while that fire breathing dinosaur needed high-octane juice so it didn't sound like a diesel, the new LT1 does it on 93-octane...or less. That's right, if you feed the LT1 (we're gonna keep saying LT1 until you finally stop picturing the '90s mill) regular gas, it'll keep going without detonating a piston out the side of the block. It might not smoke the tires like when there's 93 in the tank, but it'll still make the new C7 move like lightning.

As we sat listening intently to the product engineers telling us about the new engine, they had more to unveil.

The first Small Block V-8 debuted in the Corvette in 1955. It displaced 4.3L (265 cubic inches) and was rated at 195 horsepower, drawing air and fuel through a four-barrel carburetor. Five years later, V-8 power helped Corvette secure its first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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In 2012, the Small Block-powered Corvette Racing C6.R beat Ferrari, BMW and Porsche to sweep the drivers', team, and manufacturer championships in production-based American Le Mans Series GT class. These championships make Corvette Racing the most successful team in ALMS history, with a total of 77 class wins, eight drivers' championships, and nine manufacturer and team championships since 2001.

"The engine requirements for a production car and a race car are remarkably similar," said Jordan Lee, small-block chief engineer and program manager. "In both cases, you want an engine that is powerful and efficient, compact and lightweight, and durable. That combination is what made the original small-block so successful. Today, the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies and engineering makes one of the best performance car engines in the world even better."

As an example, the new LT1 engine is 40 pounds lighter than a competitor's twin-turbo 4.4L, DOHC V-8 with similar output. That weight savings not only improves the Corvette's power-to-weight ratio, but also contributes to a near-perfect 50/50 weight balance for enhanced steering response and handling. It's also lighter than the outgoing LS3.

The new LT1 is also four inches shorter in overall height than the competitive DOHC V-8. That also improves handling by lowering the center of gravity while enabling a low hood line - contributing to the Corvette's iconic profile, as well as ensuring exceptional driver visibility.

The new LT1 is the third engine in the Corvette's history to be so-named, with previous versions introduced in 1970 (Gen 1) and 1992 (Gen 2).

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"The power and efficiency of the Small Block V-8 are hallmarks of Corvette performance," said Lee. "But, the compact size and great power-to-weight are just as important for the overall driving experience. The all-new LT1 will play a huge role in making the all-new Corvette a world-class sports car, in terms of technology, performance, and refinement."

Engine features and highlights
All-aluminum block and oil pan: The Gen 5 block was developed with math-based tools and data acquired in GM's racing programs, providing a light, rigid foundation for an impressively smooth engine. Its deep-skirt design helps maximize strength and minimize vibration. As with the Gen 3 and Gen 4 Small Blocks, the bulkheads accommodate six-bolt, cross-bolted main-bearing caps that limit crank flex and stiffen the engine's structure. A structural aluminum oil pan further stiffens the powertrain.

The block features nodular iron main bearing caps, which represent a significant upgrade over more conventional powdered metal bearing caps. They are stronger and can better absorb vibrations and other harmonics to help produce smoother, quieter performance.

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Compared to the Gen 4 engine, the Gen 5's cylinder block casting is all-new, but based on the same basic architecture. It was refined and modified to accommodate the mounting of the engine-driven direct injection high-pressure fuel pump. It also incorporates new engine mount attachments, new knock sensor locations, improved sealing and oil-spray piston cooling.

Advanced oiling system, with available dry-sump system: The LT1 oiling system - including oil-spray piston cooling - was also optimized for improved performance. It is driven by a new, variable-displacement oil pump that enables more efficient oil delivery, per the engine's operating conditions. Its dual-pressure control enables operation at a very efficient oil pressure at lower rpm coordinated with AFM and delivers higher pressure at higher engine speeds to provide a more robust lube system for aggressive engine operation.

Standard oil-spray piston cooling sprays the underside of each piston and the surrounding cylinder wall with an extra layer of cooling oil, via small jets located at the bottom of the cylinders. For optimal efficiency, the oil jets are used only when they are needed the most: at start-up, giving the cylinders extra lubrication that reduces noise, and at higher engine speeds, when the engine load demands, for extra cooling and greater durability.

An available dry-sump oiling system promotes exceptional lubrication system performance during aggressive driving maneuvers and high cornering loads. It includes two stages: a pressure stage and a scavenge stage. The pressure stage includes the new, dual-pressure-control and variable-displacement vane pump.

New, tri-lobe camshaft: Compared to the Gen 4 Small Block, the camshaft remains in the same position relative to the crankshaft and is used with a new rear cam bearing, but it features an all-new "tri-lobe" designed lobe which exclusively drives the engine-mounted direct injection high-pressure fuel pump, which powers the direct-injection combustion system. The cam's specifications include 14mm/13.3mm (0.551/0.524-inch) intake/exhaust lift, 200/207-crank angle degrees intake/exhaust duration at 0.050-inch tappet lift and a 116.5-degree cam angle lobe separation.

New, cam-driven fuel pump: The direct injection system features a very-high-pressure fuel pump, which delivers up to 15Mpa (150 bar). The high-pressure, engine-driven fuel pump is fed by a conventional fuel-tank-mounted pump. The direct injection pump is mounted in the "valley" between cylinder heads - beneath the intake manifold - and is driven by the camshaft at the rear of the engine. This location ensures any noise generated by the pump is muffled by the intake manifold and other insulation in the valley.

PCV-integrated rocker covers: One of the most distinctive features of the new engine is its domed rocker covers, which house the, patent-pending, integrated positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system that enhances oil economy and oil life, while reducing oil consumption and contributing to low emissions. The rocker covers also hold the direct-mount ignition coils for the coil-near-plug ignition system. Between the individual coil packs, the domed sections of the covers contain baffles that separate oil and air from the crankcase gases - about three times the oil/air separation capability of previous engines.

Acoustic foam is sandwiched between the outside top of the intake manifold and an additional acoustic shell to reduce radiated engine noise, as well as fuel pump noise.

The manifold is paired with an electronically controlled throttle, featuring an 87mm bore diameter and a "contactless" throttle position sensor design that is more durable and enables greater control.

Four-into-one exhaust manifolds: The LT-1 uses a cast version of the "four-into-one" short-header exhaust manifold design used on the Gen 4 LS7 engine. The cast header passages enable consistent exhaust flow into the "wide mouth" collector at the converter.

Cooling system, humidity sensor and more: Additional features and technologies of the Gen 5 Small Block include:

A revised cooling system with an offset water pump and thermostat for more efficient performance

General Motors' investment in the Gen 5 Small Block will create or retain more than 1,600 jobs in five North American plants, including Tonawanda, New York, which recently received upgrades to support its production

Rebirth of the Horsepower Factory
To produce the new LT1, GM invested millions of dollars in modernizing the Tonawanda, New York,engine plant, the birthplace of tens of thousands of high-performance engines during the muscle car era. Now in the 21st century it will be reborn, just like the LT1 name, and crank out what should be millions of Gen V small-blocks. The LT1 is just the first in a new line of efficient, powerful, American V-8s that easily outclass their competition.

Stayed tuned for more on the Tonawanda part of this story, as we get more details on the revitalization from GM we'll bring them to you.

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Gen V LT1 Small Block

One of the new features of the LT1 is the reverse location of the intake and exhaust valves.

For maximum efficiency and combustion from the direct injection system, GM spent months developing the specially designed piston for the LT1. This design allows the LT1 to have 11.5:1 compression while still being able to run on 93-octane gas.

The accessory drive on the LT1 uses only one belt, unlike the LS series. Also absent is a power steering pump, a possible sign the new C7 will have electric power steering instead of the standard hydraulic system.

Direct injection requires seriously high fuel pressure. The LT1's direct injection pump is driven by a roller follower that runs of a special tri-lobe on the camshaft.

Another feature of the LT1 is cylinder deactivation, giving the new small-block and C7 Corvette unparalleled fuel economy along with its performance.

GM was mum on this aspect, but the outlet of the LT1's cast iron exhaust manifold looks to be made for an exhaust driven power adder to be bolted on. Only time will tell!

We take an in-depth look at the Gen 5 LT1 Small-Block. This is GM's all-new 6.2-liter small block and we go in deep. We discuss everything from cylinders to exhaust. - GM High-Tech Performance Magazine » Read More

VETTE was invited to a tour at GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant for the LT1 engine! The tour made it clear that GM has stepped up its game considerably, by investing in the technology and equipment needed to make Tonawanda one of the most advanced engine-manufacturing facilities in the world. » Read More